East Side developer to host construction job fair

By Andy Young
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November 13, 2017 @6:35 PM

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Two empty lots along Jefferson Avenue will someday be home to a pair of new three-story apartment complexes for people with a variety of income levels, along with retails shops and space for community members to enjoy.

With construction set to begin next spring, developer Nick Sinatra of Sinatra & Company Real Estate is looking for workers to build it—workers invested in the project because they live in the neighborhood.

"On both sides of Jefferson, you have great old historic neighborhoods where people have been there for decades and care about their community," Sinatra said. "Rebuilding this corridor on Jefferson Avenue, it was important for us to say ‘the neighborhood needs to be actively involved and have an opportunity to rebuild the neighborhood.’"

Sinatra is partnering with Skilled Services International to host a job fair this Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Greater Refuge Temple of Christ, just down the street from where the apartments will go up on Jefferson Avenue.

Tim Sanders is working with Sinatra to ensure clergy, city leaders and people in the area have input on the buildings. His father has been the pastor at the Greater Refuge Temple for 40 years.

"People from the community are actually going to be employed on these projects. Minority contractors are going to be the contractors on these projects," Sanders said. "Private dollars are starting to pour in, the public dollars are starting to pour in and we're really looking forward to see Jefferson Avenue restored to its former glory."

Anyone interested in finding work on the project but is worried they don't have the proper construction experience, that's OK—Skilled Services International is willing to train people on the job.

"You've got guys that want to work but don't often have the skill sets that you need," said David Farinacci, Skilled Services International president. "But that's something that we can help them obtain and guide them through that process."

They plan to place workers in a variety of jobs including carpenters, plumbers and electricians—putting money in their pockets, and pride in their future.

"I think that is the key phrase right now is more of civic pride and getting more people involved in these projects," said Farinacci.

Sinatra hopes to have the apartments complete by mid-2019, as a shining example of what collaboration can accomplish.